Shimadzu Scientific Instruments (SSI) will introduce several mass spectrometry-based applications of Noviplex™ cards at ASMS 2014 in Baltimore, MD. Noviplex Cards allow for rapid collection of a volumetric sample of plasma from an unmeasured amount of whole blood within minutes. Demonstrated applications include peptides, proteins and small molecules.

Noviplex Cards offer significant advantages for use with LC-MS/MS instruments. They eliminate the need for syringes, glass collection tubes, centrifugation and refrigerators and allow for much less invasive blood sampling than conventional phlebotomy. Plasma is a much cleaner sample than whole blood for the mass spectrometer and the volumetric amount of plasma (exactly 2.5 ul) generated from a drop of whole blood significantly improves quantification.

“Noviplex cards reduce the reliance on blood collection from clinical laboratories and enable researchers to generate plasma in minutes from finger-sticks or mouse-tail bleeds,” said Scott Kuzdzal, PhD, life science business unit manager at SSI. “Plasma sample generation, storage and shipping are greatly simplified.”

Shimadzu partnered with Novilytic Laboratories to offer Noviplex Cards. The technology allows plasma generation from a finger-stick as opposed to traditional methods of blood collection and preparation. Plasma can be generated from specimen volumes ranging from 20 to 75 µL of whole blood. The technology offers a single-step, solid-phase method for sample preparation and analyte extraction. Noviplex accelerates processes by eliminating refrigeration, centrifugation solvent extraction and evaporation.